Hey strobists–game over now. Today, Profoto is announcing a jaw dropping new product in the lighting world. Meet the Profoto B1 Air TTL: a studio light and radio flash transmitter combination that that read your camera’s ISO and aperture settings and adjust the monolight accordingly–just like speedlights. It’s called the B1 500 AirTTL, and at the moment it will only work with Canon DSLRs, though the company is promising a Nikon version in 2014. It uses a new Air remote called the Air TTL-C, which works with your Canon DSLR’s metering system and can allow you to manually control the light or use TTL.

The remote will be sold separately from the light so you can use it if you want to. Considering that this B1 is 500 watt seconds, you know that it will be packing more power than five speedlights. The light can be controlled in tenths of stops over a 9 stop power range. It also sports a quick burst feature to let a photographer fire 20 bursts if they want.

Tech specs are after the jump. Who knows, they could have started to make the handheld light meter obsolete. Both products are available today.

Specifications

Max energy

500 Ws

Energy range

9 f-stops (2-500Ws)

Energy control increments

1/10 or full f-stops

Recycling time

0.2-1.9s (Quick burst up to 20 flashes/second)

Max modeling light (W)

20W LED (Output equivalent to 70W Halogen)

Modeling light control

Off, Proportional, Free (5-100%)

Mode control

Freeze (shortest flash duration) or Normal (color balanced) mode.

Flash duration Normal Mode (t0.5)

1/11,000s (2Ws) – 1/1000s (500W)

Flash duration Freeze Mode (t0.5)

1/19,000s (2Ws)- 1/1000s (500W)

Energy stability Normal Mode

+ – 1/20 f-stop flash to flash

Energy stability Color Mode

+ – 1/20 f-stop flash to flash

Color stability Normal Mode

+ – 150K over range; + – 20K flash to flash

Color stability Freeze Mode

+ – 800K over range; + – 50K flash to flash

Guide number@ 2m, 100 ISO with Magnum Reflector

45 2/10

Input power supply

Exchangeable Lithium-Ion Battery 14.8V/3Ah

Battery capacity

Up to 220 full power flashes

Synchronization and control

Sync socket(s)

1

Wire sync voltage

Compliant to ISO 10330 standard

Wire sync connector

3.5 Mini-Phono

Photocell/IR-slave and switch

Yes

Radio sync & control

Yes, Built in AirTTL supporting wireless sync, control and TTL. (Requires Air Remote TTL. Sold separately.)

Radio sync range

Up to 300m (1,000 ft)

Miscellaneous

Function display

Multifunction LCD display.

Fan cooling

Yes, thermally controlled fan speed for low noise level.

Ready signaling

Yes, ready lamp, dim and/or switchable beep sound.

Auto dumping

Yes

USB interface

Yes, USB mini port for FW upgrading.

Quick Burst

Quick Burst capability of up to 30 flashes per sec- ond.

Measurements

Dimensions

31 x 14 x 21cm (12.2 x 5.5 x 8.3 inch)

Weight

3.0 kg (6.6lbs( including battery.

Frequency band:

2.4 GHz

No. of frequency channels:

8

No. of remote/TTL control groups per channel:

3(A-C)

Operation modes:

TTL & Manual

TTL camera compatibility:

Canon E-TTL II

Wireless Range:

Normal sync up to 300 m *1ooft) Remote control and TTL sync up to 100 Meters (330 ft)

Battery type:

2xAAA (Alkaline)

Typical battery lifetime:

30 hours

Antenna type:

Integrated

Auto power off:

Yes, 30 min of inactivity

Mount & Connections

Camera mount/Sync in:

Canon hot shoe only

FW upgrade:

USB Mini

Supported Air Functionality

Sync/Trigger:

Yes, triggers Air Remote & Air Sync transceivers plus all Profoto flashes with AirS, Air or AirTTL support.

Remote control:

Yes, TTL group control for all Profoto flashes with Air or AirTTL support.